Story Behind The Song

A dog is a dog, not a toy.

Song Description

Amberforth runs away from home and finds a place where he is treated like a dog. He likes to jump up and bark at the door.

Lyrics

Amberforth


Matilda bought a little dog
From a special dog catalog
She fed him tidbits of steak rare and red
And with lace she lined his sweet little bed.

Matilda brushed his golden hair
and talked a lot about how rare
he was, from far away in the north,
that's why she named him Amberforth.

Matilda made him little hats,
she bought him coats and matching spats
in a very becoming shade of brown.
and took him with her into town

There Amberforth saw to his great surprise
big dogs, and little, and some of his size.
He'd always thought he was quite unique
A phenomenon, rare like a fine antique.

And Amberforth began to ponder:
Should he keep on being a wonder
or stop acting like a phenomenon
and just be a dog and have some fun.

He didn't know how long he'd enjoy
being less like a real dog than a toy:
Never bark, never dig, never even play.
Maybe it was best if he ran away.

Mathilda wouldn't want him around
if he began to act like a hound.
So Amberforth ran far away
and found a better place to stay

with people who liked him and called him Nate,
and fed him dog food and thought he was great
Nate liked to jump up and bark at the door
And when he was bushed he'd sleep on the floor.
And snore!